94 
204. Picus Mayor. 9.) «os. (2. Se Pe ie 
GREAT SporreD WoopPECKER. 
A resident species. Common in England, but more rarely met 
with in Scotland and Ireland. 
2905. Picus LEUCONOTUS .°.-s «'. . . Vol TE. Pi ixod: 
WHITE-BACKED WOODPECKER. 
An accidental visitor to the Hebrides. 
206. Picus MINOR Bee aE. AP eo Vo lS Ve exexelate 
Lesser Sporren WoopPECKER. 
A resident species in England, extremely rare, if at all to be found, 
in Scotland, and never occurs in Ireland. 
The late Mr. Briggs, of Cookham, in Berkshire, who was a close 
observer of nature, and especially of our native birds, informed me 
just prior to his death that he had witnessed many curious actions 
and displays performed by this species while flitting and hovering 
with outspread wings around the leafy branches and crowns of high 
trees, apparently engaged in capturing small insects. I deem it 
necessary to mention this, because we really know but little re- 
specting the actions of even our commonest Woodpecker. 
207. Pricus vILLosts. 
Hairy Woodpecker. 
There is no doubt about this American species having been killed 
several times in Britain. Latham mentions a pair from Halifax, in 
Yorkshire, in the collection of the then Duchess of Portland; and 
one ‘was killed in 1849 at Whitby, in Yorkshire, as stated by Mr. 
Higgins in the ‘ Zoologist’ for that year, p. 2496. This latter spe- 
cimen I have examined, and have no doubt of its identity, nor of the 
authenticity of its occurrence. Itis not figured, because it is purely 
American and only an accidental visitor. 
208. Picus PUBESCENS. 
Downy Woodpecker. 
Mr. Harting mentions the occurrence of a single example of this 
bird at Bloxworth, near Blandford, Dorsetshire, in December 1836, 
as reported by the Rev. O. P. Cambridge in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1859, 
p- 6444. 
Owing to this species being a native of the New World, and its 
having been only once seen in England, I have not given a figure 
of it. 
Genus Dryocorts. 
As restricted, this genus contains but a single species. 
